World News

UN rights council votes to strenthen monitoring of abuses in Sudan

The United Nations top rights body narrowly decided Thursday to beef up monitoring of abuses amid Sudan's spiralling conflict, despite vehement opposition from Khartoum.. Instead, it ordered the existing Special Rapporteur on the rights situation in Sudan to provide "detailed monitoring and documentation of... all allegations of human rights violations and abuses since the 25 October 2021, including those arising directly from the current conflict", and to report his findings to the council.

Thu, May 11, 2023 2 mins read

World News

Zelensky says Ukraine needs time before counter-offensive

Ukraine said it needed more time before a highly anticipated counter-offensive against Russian forces, according to an interview published by the BBC Thursday, as the UK pledged to send Storm Shadow missiles to help Kyiv.. The missiles pledged by the UK have been used by British and French forces in the Gulf, Iraq and Libya and can be operated in extreme conditions.

Thu, May 11, 2023 3 mins read

World News

AFP holds minute of silence for journalist Arman Soldin killed in Ukraine

Journalists and staff of Agence France-Presse (AFP) in Paris and across the world held a minute of silence on Thursday to remember their colleague Arman Soldin who was killed earlier this week in Ukraine.. "Arman represented the very best of AFP," the agency's global news director Phil Chetwynd told staff ahead of the minute of silence at midday GMT. Hundreds of AFP staff observed the minute of silence at Paris headquarters and from bureaux around the world via video conference.

Thu, May 11, 2023 1 mins read

World News

US lawmaker Santos faces court hearing in Brazil

A day after being arrested on 13 charges in the United States, Congressman George Santos faced more legal headaches in Brazil, where a court hearing was scheduled for Thursday in a fraud case against him.. The closed-door hearing will be held by video conference, but it is not known whether Santos, 34, will participate, a court spokesman told AFP. The congressman, who has admitted to lying about his name, religion, education and work resume, was arrested and charged Wednesday by US federal prosecutors with wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and making materially false statements to the House of Representatives.

Thu, May 11, 2023 1 mins read

World News

US accuses S.Africa of having supplied weapons to Russia

The US envoy to South Africa on Thursday accused the country of having covertly provided arms to Russia despite its professed neutrality in the Ukraine war, local media said. . South Africa has been walking a diplomatic tightrope over the Ukraine conflict.

Thu, May 11, 2023 2 mins read

World News

Turkish candidate drops out days before presidential election

Third-party candidate Muharrem Ince on Thursday withdrew from Turkey's tight presidential election in a shock move that raised the chances of an opposition first-round victory.. "We welcome Mr. Ince to the Turkish (opposition) table.

Thu, May 11, 2023 2 mins read

World News

Czechs announce major pension, tax reform to rein in debt

The Czech government presented an extensive tax and pension reform on Thursday designed to curb soaring public debt due to the Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine.. The government will cut spending in the government sector, curb subsidies, and raise the real estate tax and corporate income taxes from 2024.

Thu, May 11, 2023 2 mins read

World News

Armenia-Azerbaijan clashes threaten to derail peace talks

Armenia and Azerbaijan on Thursday blamed each other for an exchange of fire along their restive border, which killed one person and wounded four days ahead of EU-hosted peace talks.. Armenia initially said four of its soldiers had been wounded by incoming fire in an eastern region of the ex-Soviet country.

Thu, May 11, 2023 2 mins read

World News

Yemen peace push 'serious' but next steps unclear: Saudi envoy

Warring parties in Yemen are "serious" about ending a devastating eight-year-old conflict but it is impossible to predict when direct talks, much less a breakthrough, might happen, Saudi Arabia's envoy told AFP. "Everybody is serious.. - The Huthis see Saudi Arabia as a party to the conflict, whereas Jaber indicated that Riyadh sees itself as more of a mediator trying to facilitate an agreement between the rebels and Yemen's government.

Thu, May 11, 2023 3 mins read

World News

Finnish footbridge collapse injures 27, mostly children

Some 27 young people, mostly children, were injured in Finland on Thursday when a temporary footbridge near a construction site collapsed and they fell several metres onto a road, officials said.. Rescue workers could be seen treating multiple people lying injured on the road shortly after the accident.

Thu, May 11, 2023 2 mins read